roadside scholar

stuff i found on the highway of life

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Archive for September, 2008

modern wine rack, vintage roots

Paying homage to the genesis of all wine, Danish designer Jakob Wagner has created a wine rack to resemble the twists and curves of grapevines.  A smart cantilevered style enables the stored bottles to do double duty as stylish sculpture, as they appear to float freely against the wall from a distance. The rack holds six bottles of assorted sizes and is offered in two styles: polished aluminum or synthetic black rubber over fiberglass.

Oh so minimal and stylish.

Find it at Menu.

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elegant furniture from turkey’s autoban

I love how substantial this beautiful wood furniture collection is from Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer ÇaÄŸlar for Istanbul’s Autoban Design. I especially like their Starfish table. It’s mid-century hip and modern-day organic, taking inspiration from the gentle sea creature that is its namesake.

 

 

It isn’t inexpensive, but if you want furniture that will keep in your home for years and years, it’s worth it.

You can find the table at RAY20, and you can see more design excellence at the Autoban website.

via bltd

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because it’s funny

Amusing!

via inspire me, now! via incredimazing

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reminder to vote

Do we all have election fever yet? Just in case you think you might forget about November 4th of this year, here are some things to surround yourself with everyday to keep voting top of mind…

I am pretty sure between dressing your kid and taking a bath with all these cute things from Wishingfish you won’t forget to do your civic duty.

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snapshot sunday

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jenny flanders photography: miniview

what you see is what you get, or wysiwyg. have you ever heard that phrase before? i usually think of it with regards to lotus spreadsheets. i also think that it applies to good food that is essentially naked and perfectly seasoned, which requires talent and effort to achieve. now, i also think it applies to the beautiful work of photographer jenny flanders. jenny is able to capture the essence of her subjects in a very intimate, authentic way. her macro shots are so inviting, and her abstract shots compel me to look a little bit longer and think about how she shot them, and how she brings out the best in them using this wysiwyg style. no primping or preening at all. just purity, plain and simple. i wanted to know a little more, so i asked…

q: where do you live and where do you create your work?
a: i live in seattle, washington, and i create much of my work just walking around my neighborhood. (i try to stick to what i can reach from the sidewalk rather than trespassing in my neighbors’ gardens.) i also spend quite a bit of time in central washington state, which is orchard and wine country. and of course i always take my camera on vacation!

 

q: what sold you on photography? what do you think makes it stand out from other art mediums?
a: i haven’t figured out another way to make art that satisfies me enough that i’d display it in my own home. photography stands out from many other mediums in that it’s more accessible. it’s relatively easy to acquire a camera, and it’s more portable than an easel, a sewing machine or a pottery wheel. photography can also be more “concrete” than other art forms, and i think that gives it great power to help people see the world differently.

q: you’ve got two shops on etsy: one with your nature images, and the other with your abstract collection. do you have a favorite motif?
a: i’m going to have to go with “natural abstracts.” 🙂 there are other things that catch my eye, but a lot of them just don’t fit with my nature photos. hence, my rather neglected second shop.

 

q: your images are largely if not exclusively unadorned (and by that i mean unenhanced digitally). what made you make that decision, and what do you think is the main benefit of this style?
a: well, i’ve moved from not knowing how to digitally enhance my photos to having some idea but still thinking they look pretty good without it. beyond removing a stray speck of dirt, how can i improve on nature? time is definitely a factor, but editing really isn’t the fun part for me. maybe i’ll develop that interest someday and open a third shop!

 

q: if you could shoot anywhere in the world, where would it be? and why?
a: the first place that comes to mind is hawaii, or anywhere lush, tropical and exotic. brazil’s atlantic forest is known for its biodiversity — 20,000 plant species ought to keep me busy for a while! i also need to pay my brother a visit in brooklyn, since the botanic garden there is considered among the best in the world. the why is probably pretty evident when you look at my “main” shop, but i’m truly fascinated by the details nature has to offer.

see more of jenny’s work at her two etsy shops.

thank you jenny!

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the art of veronika nagy

i don’t think i have mentioned this before, but i have been diligently building a fabulous etsy bunny collection. now that you know, looky here what just came in the mail from talented california artist veronika nagy:

isn’t it clever? veronika’s work is not exclusively limited to rabbits either. she enjoys experimenting with different traditional and digital techniques, which is reflected in her eclectic collection filled with paintings, etchings and mixed media drawings. strong childhood narratives and a certain positive, dreamy energy run through her pieces too, which serves to link all the different mediums used very cohesively.

purchase these pieces and see more in veronika’s etsy shop, and see what she’s up to on her blog right here.

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becky howson textiles

yet another reason why i think embroidery will take over the world: the beautiful, masterful textile creations of uk designer becky howson. becky uses several different creative methods to create her collection. she starts with sketches or paintings and photographs of everyday things. then, depending of what type of designs spring forth, the pieces are finished with applique, computer aided design, screenprinting and hand or machine embroidery. the results are filled with feminine detail and imaginative, whimsical energy.

see more loveliness at becky’s website.

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